9 (Sept 2006)
Evaluation of the Optimizer System in Subjects with Heart Failure Resulting from Systolic Dysfunction: FIX-HF-5 Study Update
- Thu, 5/1/08 - 4:22pm
- 0 Comments
- 2139 reads
10-Minute Interview: Peter S. Fischbach, MD, MA
- Thu, 5/1/08 - 4:22pm
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- 1359 reads
What prompted your move to Children's Hospital of Atlanta (CHOA)?
The cardiology program at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Sibley Heart Center is an expanding, exciting group in a dynamic big city. The opportunities for clinical research and busy clinical service were very inviting.
How did you get into the field of pediatric electrophysiology (EP)? What do you like best about working with pediatric patients?
Email Discussion Group: September 2006
- Thu, 5/1/08 - 4:22pm
- 0 Comments
- 1507 reads
Using Precedex Infusions in Conjunction With Moderate Sedation for Patients Undergoing Atrial Fibrillation Ablations
- Thu, 5/1/08 - 4:22pm
- 1 Comments
- 9304 reads
The Electrophysiology Laboratory at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, New York has been using dexmedetomidine (Precedex) for sedation of atrial fibrillation patient for the past three years. Our medical director, Dr. Ali Al-Mudamgha, began performing atrial fibrillation ablations in the Spring of 2003. Dr. Al-Mudamgha uses the Pappone method of circumferential pulmonary vein ablation. Our Electrophysiology Laboratory is dedicated to electrophysiology procedures; implants are performed in the operating room. The staff consists of one nurse manager, three staff nurses and one administrative assistant. St. Joseph Hospital has strict policies regarding moderate sedation. Registered nurses must complete a moderate sedation inservice and maintain yearly competency. Sedation nurses may then administer midazolam, Fentanyl, Demerol and morphine, under the physician's direction.
Marin General Hospital's Heart Fair: Providing Educational Opportunities for EP Patients and Community
- Thu, 5/1/08 - 4:22pm
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- 1217 reads
I read that this Heart Fair was your concept. Why was it important to organize such an event?
The Heart Fair idea was started by Medtronic, who offered to bring their training truck to Marin General. This truck offers virtual training opportunities to physicians to practice implanting pacemakers and defibrillators in a simulated environment. I have always wanted to plan a community service to raise the public awareness of the problems of congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death and atrial fibrillation, as well as the latest therapies available for these conditions. I already had plans for two campaigns: Do You Know Your EF? and Atrial Fibrillation: It Is Not Only A Nuisance. Combining the two activities together the training truck with the two campaigns seemed to me a perfect opportunity for the public to visit a simulated EP lab, meet our professional team and to have a well-rounded experience related to these conditions.
Spotlight Interview: Oregon Heart & Vascular Institute
- Thu, 5/1/08 - 4:22pm
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- 3630 reads
Sacred Heart Medical Center, located 110 miles south of Portland, in Eugene, Oregon, is the largest hospital between Portland and San Francisco (432 beds), serving as a regional referral center and the only level II trauma center in the region.
What is the size of your EP lab facility and number of staff members? What is the mix of credentials at your lab?
We have one dedicated EP suite equipped with a Siemens biplane system. We also have two cardiac and two peripheral vascular suites in the cath lab. We have a 23-bed prep/recovery unit that supports EP and the other cath labs. All of the rooms are private and optimal for providing pre-procedure education for patients and their families. The EP lab is staffed by 4 FTEs. Credentials include RT, RCIS and RN. The RT and RCIS are dedicated to EP; both the RT and RCIS scrub and monitor cases. The RNs circulate and rotate between EP and the cardiac and peripheral labs.
Optimizing Inventory Management with Technology
- Thu, 5/1/08 - 4:22pm
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- 1886 reads
With the growth of cardiovascular services at our medical center and the May 2006 opening of a new 200,000 square foot, five-floor facility, it was important that our organization optimize the purchase and utilization cycles of high-cost catheterization equipment to ensure successful quality, financial and operational outcomes. As an organization with a vision of providing World Class Care in our Communities, efficiency and cost containment are part of the ingredients for providing the best possible patient care.
Identifying the Challenges
The Utility of Implantable Loop Recorders for Diagnosing Unexplained Syncope in 100 Consecutive Patients
- Thu, 5/1/08 - 4:22pm
- 0 Comments
- 2934 reads
Recurrent unexplained syncope and presyncope comprise approximately 1 - 6% of emergency room and approximately 1% of hospital admissions.1,2 The estimated incidence of self-reported syncope is 6.2 per 1,000 person years in the Framingham study.3 The overall incidence is approximately 3 - 6% over 10 years, and in a select group of patients, the prevalence of syncope could reach almost 50%.4 A symptom-rhythm correlation is often difficult to obtain during spontaneous episodes because of the sporadic, infrequent and unpredictable nature of syncope.1 A significant percentage of patients referred for Holter monitoring, tilt-table test and electrophysiology study have inconclusive results. In addition, many of these patients also have a negative neurological workup.
